Digimarc Corporation

Donald Haaga

Tony F Rodriguez

Tomas Filler

Matthew M Weaver

Vojtech Holub

Ravi K Sharma

Marc D Miller

Alastair M Reed

Bruce L Davis

Eric D Evans

Jeremy Leigh Cattone

Mark-Andrew Ray Tait

Jeffrey B Schulte

Jeffery B Schulte

Thomas P Carrier

Variable data printing workflows are enhanced for use with content that includes 2D code patterns, such as digital watermark data. One arrangement includes applying a filter to a content stream within a PDF document to extract both first variable pattern data for a first watermark pattern and second variable pattern data for a second watermark pattern. A first composite watermark pattern is then defined based on the extracted first variable watermark pattern data in conjunction with static watermark pattern data, and a second composite watermark pattern is defined based on the extracted second variable watermark pattern data in conjunction with the static watermark pattern data. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Serialized digital watermarking for variable data printing

Digital watermarking is adapted for the variable data printing. A reference signal serves as a proxy for optimizing the embedding a watermark in a host image to be printed. Using the reference signal, embedding parameters are generated, which are a function of constraints such as visual quality and robustness of the machine readable data. Adjustments needed to embed a unique payload in each printed piece are generated using the embedding parameters. These adjustments are stored in a manner that enables them to be efficiently obtained and applied within the RIP or press during operation of the press. Various other methods, system configurations and applications are also detailed.

Digital watermarking is adapted for the variable data printing. A reference signal serves as a proxy for optimizing the embedding a watermark in a host image to be printed. Using the reference signal, embedding parameters are generated, which are a function of constraints such as visual quality and robustness of the machine readable data. Adjustments needed to embed a unique payload in each printed piece are generated using the embedding parameters. These adjustments are stored in a manner that enables them to be efficiently obtained and applied within the raster image processor or press during operation of the press. Various other methods, system configurations and applications are also detailed.

The present disclosure relates to advanced image processing and encoded signal processing. One claim currently recites an image processing method comprising the acts: receiving a digital representation of artwork, the artwork having an area of uniform color; generating a two-dimensional data signal that redundantly encodes a plural-bit message, the data signal comprising plural elements, each of which has a single bit value; receiving a two-dimensional synchronization signal comprising plural elements, each of which has a plural-bit value, each element of said data signal having an element of the synchronization signal corresponding thereto; processing the two-dimensional data signal with the two-dimensional synchronization signal and with a gradient function to yield a two-dimensional gradient marking signal; and printing an ink counterpart of the gradient marking signal on a medium with the artwork, said printing comprising printing plural dithered two-dimensional blocks of at least four contiguous elements each, in which one or more elements of each block are printed to be dark. Of course, other claims and combinations are described as well.

Sparse modulation for robust signaling and synchronization

Sparse signal modulation schemes encode a data channel on a substrate in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. The substrate is printed by any of a variety of means to apply the image, with sparse signal, to an object. After image capture of the object, a decoder processes the captured image to detect and extract data modulated into the sparse signal. The sparse signal may incorporate implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.

The present disclosure relates to advanced image processing and encoded signal processing. One claim recites an image processing method comprising the acts: receiving a digital representation of product packaging artwork, comprised of pixels; defining a guard band region surrounding text characters included in the artwork, in which a first region encloses the guard band region, and a second region encloses the first region; and altering the artwork to redundantly encode a machine-readable plural-bit payload across different regions of the artwork. The altering only alters the artwork outside of the guard band region, wherein a strength of the encoding has a first value in the first region, and has a second, stronger, value in the second region. Of course, other claims and combinations are described as well.

Signal encoding outside of guard band region surrounding text characters, including varying encoding strength

Art can be infused with network identifiers at the time of its creation, rather than as a post-process. The identifiers may be encoded as overt elements of the art, and enable the artist to reprogram&#x2014;as over time&#x2014;an augmentation of the artwork experience via network-delivered components. These network components can include stimuli present when the artist created the work (e.g., music), commentary by the artist, video and augmented reality features, audience-crowdsourced content (e.g., imagery of, or feedback provided by, other viewers encountering the artwork), etc. The artwork augmentation can vary with the user's context (e.g., location, demographics, interests, history). Physical brushes can be equipped to insert such identifiers in graphic arts; other authoring tools are disclosed as well. The network experience can be delivered via smartphones, projectors, and other devices. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Methods and arrangements relating to signal rich art

The technology relates to advanced image signal processing. One claim recites an image processing apparatus comprising: memory for storing data representing a digital image; one or more processors configured for transforming the data by embedding a digital watermark therein, the digital watermark comprising a synchronization component and a message component; one or more processors configured for: attacking the transformed data to yield altered, transformed data; analyzing the altered, transformed data to obtain detectability measures therefrom, a first detectability measure comprising a measure corresponding to the synchronization component strength, and a second measure comprising a measure corresponding to the message component strength; based on a combination of the first detectability measure and the second detectability measure, predicting&#x2014;along one or more swipe paths&#x2014;a likelihood that the transformed data, once printed on a physical substrate, will be detectable from optical scan data representing such. Other claims and combinations are provided.

Construction of signal maps for images with encoded signals

Sparse signal modulation schemes encode a data channel on a host image in a manner that is robust, flexible to achieve perceptual quality constraints, and provides improved data capacity. The host image is printed by any of a variety of means to apply the image, with sparse signal, to an object. After image capture of the object, a decoder processes the captured image to detect and extract data modulated into the sparse signal. The sparse signal may incorporate implicit or explicit synchronization components, which are either formed from the data signal or are complementary to it.

Art is infused with network identifiers at the time of its creation, rather than as a post-process. The identifiers may be encoded as overt elements of the art, and enable the artist to reprogram&#x2014;over time&#x2014;an augmentation of the artwork experience via network-delivered components. These network components can include stimuli present when the artist created the work (e.g., music), commentary by the artist, video and augmented reality features, audience-crowdsourced content (e.g., imagery of, or feedback provided by, other viewers encountering the artwork), etc. The artwork augmentation can vary with the user's context (e.g., location, demographics, interests, history). Physical brushes can be equipped to insert such identifiers in graphic arts; other authoring tools are disclosed as well. The network experience can be delivered via smartphones, projectors, and other devices. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

The disclosure relates to data hiding and digital watermarking in imagery. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory storing an image editing program; an input for receiving imagery, the imagery comprising image features that vary across the imagery; a processor configured for: encoding a pattern of-dimensional auxiliary data at a first intensity within a first multi-dimensional region within the imagery; and encoding the pattern of-dimensional auxiliary data at a second, different intensity within a second multi-dimensional region within the imagery. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided.

Watermarking different areas of digital images with different intensities

An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Donald Haaga